Homemade Garden Tools from Recycled Materials

Make these handy homemade garden tools using recycled saw blades and wooden handles.

Bending the bow-saw blade with the help of a torch.

JOHN VIVIAN

A sampling of honest, hardworking hand tools fashioned from scrap saw blades. From left to right, the Goose-Face Swythe; a twin-blade, in-row Sweeder; the highly functional Brush-Whacker; a diamond-head Sweeder; and a steel-reinforced stirrup-blade hoe Sweeder.

PHOTO: JOHN VIVIAN

Applying epoxy cement.

JOHN VIVIAN

Drilling the end-slotted ash handle.

JOHN VIVIAN

After fastening and grinding the bolts, strengthening the working end with wire laid in a narrow loop along the neck and then wrapped to the loop eye, threaded and drawn under the coiled collar.

JOHN VIVIAN

Use the tang to shape the grips.

JOHN VIVIAN

Use a hand or coping saw to cut them.

JOHN VIVIAN

The working surface of the author's Goose-Face Swythe has one toothed and one beveled business edge, like its namesake.

MOTHER EARTH NEWS EDITORS

Mark and cut the BrushWhacker outline.

JOHN VIVIAN

A sampling of honest, hardworking hand tools fashioned from scrap saw blades. From left to right, the Goose-Face Swythe; a twin-blade, in-row Sweeder; the highly functional Brush-Whacker; a diamond-head Sweeder; and a steel-reinforced stirrup-blade hoe Sweeder.

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